Spring 2018 Hardlines Strategies

What Can You Do? There are a few things you can do to take advantage of resources you already have. For example, consider contacting your POS provider about additional training to ensure you are getting the most out of your POS system. Blish-Mize’s Information Technology department can provide you with a list of POS companies that can help make your store operate more efficiently. Take advantage of vendor training so your employees are knowledgeable about the products you sell. There are lots of opportunities for additional training from the different companies you work with. In addition, try the Blish-Mize Mobile Product Catalog app and its handheld ordering devices to help make your inventory-ordering process more efficient. Work with your Blish-Mize sales representative to periodically update your merchandise and store layout as needed.

Here’s what a few of them are doing, according to the IRRC study: • Home Depot has implemented self-checkout registers. • Lowe’s uses cameras to keep an eye on customer traffic, analyzing the data it collects to determine the most efficient staffing schedules. • Macy’s has taken a further step with its mobile app, allowing consumers to take a picture of any outfit, accessory or merchandise item they see in daily life and search on its website for a match. • Wal-Mart is using beacon technology to send push notifications to customers about in-store specials. • Nordstrom uses a beacon-enabled mobile app that notifies a consumer if an item in their online shopping cart is in stock in a store as they pass within a certain distance.

If you want to dive further in to the different technology options but feel intimidated, remember it’s easy to start small. Build a Facebook page, and put together a few ads to go with it. (Learn more about Facebook ads on Page 36.) If you have a website, make sure it’s optimized for mobile, as many customers will view it on a smartphone or tablet. If you don’t, consider creating a website or app for your business. It’s good to know customer service is still No. 1, and it’s likely something you excel at! But a goal might be to dive deeper in to all the technology options available and see if any would be useful for your business. To learn more about using e-commerce in your business, attend “Retail Realities: Where Independent Retailers Fit In Today’s Online Environment” at the Spring Buying Market.

#